Interactive puzzle

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to an interactive puzzle. In particular, the methods and systems of the present disclosure may: generate data representing a graphical user interface (GUI); and receive user input via one or more user-manipulable control elements of the GUI such that one or more of a plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expand and/or contract along their one or more predetermined associated paths in an image area of the GUI to form a line drawing comprising at least a humanly discernible portion of at least one image, of a plurality of different and distinct images that may be rendered in the image area, that constitutes at least a portion of a solution to a user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 63/329,362, filed Apr. 8, 2022, and entitled “INTERACTIVEPUZZLE,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to puzzles. More particularly,the present disclosure relates to interactive puzzles.

BACKGROUND

Computing devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers, set-top devices, smartphones, wearable computing devices,and/or the like) are ubiquitous in modern society. They may supportcommunications between their users, provide their users withentertainment, information about their environments, current events, theworld at large, and/or the like.

SUMMARY

Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will beset forth in part in the following description, or may be learned fromthe description, or may be learned through practice of the embodiments.

One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method.The method may include generating, by one or more computing devices,data representing a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may comprisean image area for rendering a plurality of different and distinct imagesincluding at least one image that constitutes at least a portion of asolution to a user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality ofdifferent and distinct images. The GUI may also comprise one or moreuser-manipulable control elements configured to cause one or more of aplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements to at least one of expand or contract alongone or more predetermined associated paths in the image area to form aline drawing comprising at least a humanly discernible portion of the atleast one image that constitutes the at least a portion of the solutionto the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of differentand distinct images. The method may also include receiving, by thecomputing device(s), user input via the user-manipulable controlelement(s) such that the one or more of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements at least one of expand or contract along their predeterminedassociated path(s) in the image area to form the line drawing comprisingat least the humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.

Another example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to asystem. The system may include one or more processors, and a memorystoring instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause thesystem to perform operations. The operations may include generating datarepresenting a GUI. The GUI may comprise an image area for rendering aplurality of different and distinct images including at least one imagethat constitutes at least a portion of a solution to a user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.The GUI may also comprise one or more user-manipulable control elementsconfigured to cause one or more of a plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements to atleast one of expand or contract along one or more predeterminedassociated paths in the image area to form a line drawing comprising atleast a humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.The operations may also include receiving user input via theuser-manipulable control element(s) such that the one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements at least one of expand or contract alongtheir predetermined associated path(s) in the image area to form theline drawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of theat least one image that constitutes the at least a portion of thesolution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality ofdifferent and distinct images.

A further example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to one ormore non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions thatwhen executed by one or more computing devices cause the computingdevice(s) to perform operations. The operations may include generatingdata representing a GUI. The GUI may comprise an image area forrendering a plurality of different and distinct images including atleast one image that constitutes at least a portion of a solution to auser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images. The GUI may also comprise one or more user-manipulablecontrol elements configured to cause one or more of a plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements to at least one of expand or contract along one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form a line drawingcomprising at least a humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images. The operations may also include receiving user inputvia the user-manipulable control element(s) such that the one or more ofthe plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements at least one of expand orcontract along their predetermined associated path(s) in the image areato form the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images.

Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to various systems,apparatuses, non-transitory computer-readable media, user interfaces,and electronic devices.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of various embodimentsof the present disclosure will become better understood with referenceto the following description and appended claims. The accompanyingdrawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification, illustrate example embodiments of the present disclosureand, together with the description, serve to explain the relatedprinciples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Detailed discussion of embodiments directed to one of ordinary skill inthe art is set forth in this specification, which makes reference to theappended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an example computing environment according to exampleembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-J depict example interfaces according to example embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-N depict additional example interfaces according to exampleembodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 depicts one or more example methods according to exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the Figures, example embodiments of the presentdisclosure will be discussed in further detail.

FIG. 1 depicts an example computing environment according to exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 , environment 100 may include one or more computingdevices (e.g., one or more desktop computers, laptop computers, set-topdevices, tablet computers, mobile devices, smartphones, wearabledevices, servers, and/or the like). For example, environment 100 mayinclude computing devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and/or 80, any oneof which may include one or more associated and/or component computingdevices (e.g., a mobile device and an associated wearable device, one ormore associated servers, and/or the like). Environment 100 may alsoinclude one or more networks, for example, network(s) 102 and/or 104(e.g., one or more wired networks, wireless networks, and/or the like).Network(s) 102 may interface computing device(s) 10, 20, 30, and/or 40,with one another and/or computing device(s) 50, 60, 70, and/or 80 (e.g.,via network(s) 104, and/or the like).

Computing device(s) 10 may include one or more processor(s) 106, one ormore communication interfaces 108, and memory 110 (e.g., one or morehardware components for storing executable instructions, data, and/orthe like). Communication interface(s) 108 may enable computing device(s)10 to communicate with computing device(s) 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,and/or 80 (e.g., via network(s) 102, 104, and/or the like). Memory 110may include (e.g., store, and/or the like) instructions 112. Whenexecuted by processor(s) 106, instructions 112 may cause computingdevice(s) 10 to perform one or more operations, functions, and/or thelike described herein. It will be appreciated that computing device(s)20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and/or 80 may include one or more of thecomponents described above with respect to computing device(s) 10.

Unless explicitly indicated otherwise, the operations, functions, and/orthe like described herein may be performed by computing device(s) 10,20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and/or 80 (e.g., by computing device(s) 10, 20,30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80, by any combination of one or more ofcomputing device(s) 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and/or 80, and/or thelike).

FIGS. 2A-J depict example interfaces according to example embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

For example, referring to FIG. 2A, computing device(s) 10 (e.g., one ormore user devices, and/or the like) and/or (e.g., via network(s) 102,104, and/or the like) computing device(s) 50 (e.g., one or more servers,and/or the like) may generate, communicate, and/or the like datarepresenting GUI 200, and/or the like, which computing device(s) 10 may(e.g., based at least in part on such data, and/or the like) render,display, provide to a user, and/or the like. As illustrated, GUI 200 maycomprise (e.g., visibly, invisibly, as one or more displayed and/orun-displayed aspects of one or more touch controls, and/or the like)multiple different and distinct user-manipulable control elements 202,204, 206, and/or the like. GUI 200 may also comprise image area 207,which may be configured to render, display, provide to a user, and/orthe like a plurality of different and distinct images (e.g., associatedwith a user-solvable puzzle, and/or the like). In some embodiments,image area 207 may include one or more elements 208 (e.g., one or moretext elements, and/or the like) 210 (e.g., one or more graphics, and/orthe like) posing a question, prompting a response, providing a clue,and/or the like, e.g., regarding at least one aspect of a solution tothe user-solvable puzzle, and/or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2B, control element 202 may be configured to (e.g.,responsive to receiving corresponding user input via control element202, and/or the like) cause one or more of a plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements (e.g., element 212, and/or the like) to at least one of expandor contract along one or more predetermined associated paths (e.g., path214, and/or the like) in image area 207 to form one or more portions ofa line drawing, and/or the like. Similarly, referring to FIG. 2C,control element 204 may be configured to (e.g., responsive to receivingcorresponding user input via control element 204, and/or the like) causeone or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements (e.g., element216, and/or the like) to at least one of expand or contract along one ormore predetermined associated paths (e.g., path 218, and/or the like) inimage area 207 to form one or more portions of the line drawing, and/orthe like; and referring to FIG. 2D, control element 206 may beconfigured to (e.g., responsive to receiving corresponding user inputvia control element 206, and/or the like) cause one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements (e.g., element 220, and/or the like) to atleast one of expand or contract along one or more predeterminedassociated paths (e.g., path 222, and/or the like) in image area 207 toform one or more portions of the line drawing, and/or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2E, image area 207 may depict elements 212, 216, 220,and/or the like (e.g., expanded to their full extent, and/or the like).

Referring to FIG. 2F, computing device(s) 10, and/or the like mayreceive user input selecting one or more portions 224 of the pluralityof different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, andextensible line elements depicted by image area 207 and configuringportion(s) 224 to be removed from within image area 207, fail to bedisplayed within image area 207, have their prominence or appearancereduced and/or altered within image area 207 (e.g., such that image area207 more prominently depicts at least a portion of the line drawingcomprising at least a humanly discernible portion of at least one imagethat constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle, and/or the like). In some embodiments, portion(s)224 may comprise at least one or more portions of a common (e.g., thesame, and/or the like) line element from amongst the plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements, and/or the like. Additionally or alternatively,portion(s) 224 may comprises at least one or more portions of differentand distinct line elements from amongst the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements, and/or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2G, as portion(s) 224, and/or the like are removedfrom within image area 207, and/or the like, the plurality of differentand distinct images 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, and/or the like (e.g.,associated with the user-solvable puzzle, and/or the like) may becomemore discernable, apparent, and/or the like to the human user ofcomputing device(s) 10, and/or the like. Similarly, referring to FIG.2H, as additional portion(s) of the line drawing and/or the like areremoved from within image area 207, and/or the like, one or more of theplurality of different and distinct images (e.g., image 228, and/or thelike) may become more discernable, apparent, and/or the like to thehuman user of computing device(s) 10, and/or the like. For example, oneor more portions of the line drawing (e.g., associated with image 228,and/or the like) may be filled with one or more patterns, textures,colors, and/or the like. In some embodiments, image area 207 may includeone or more elements 236 (e.g., text, graphics, and/or the like)regarding image 228, and/or the like. Further, referring to FIG. 2I, asadditional portion(s) of the line drawing and/or the like are removedfrom within image area 207, and/or the like, one or more of theplurality of different and distinct images (e.g., image 226, and/or thelike) may become more discernable, apparent, and/or the like to thehuman user of computing device(s) 10, and/or the like. For example, oneor more portions of the line drawing (e.g., associated with image 226,and/or the like) may be filled with one or more patterns, textures,colors, and/or the like. In some embodiments, image area 207 may includeone or more elements 238 (e.g., text, graphics, and/or the like)regarding image 226, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images may comprise a different anddistinct puzzle, and/or the like. For example, referring to FIG. 2J,image area 207 may comprise gridlock puzzle 240, which may include atleast one empty space and multiple different tiles, each of which maydepict a different and distinct image of the one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements at least one of expanded or contractedalong their one or more predetermined associated paths in the image areato form the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle (e.g., for the userto rearrange in chronological order, and/or the like).

FIGS. 3A-N depict example interfaces according to example embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

For example, referring to FIG. 3A, computing device(s) 10 (e.g., one ormore user devices, and/or the like) and/or (e.g., via network(s) 102,104, and/or the like) computing device(s) 50 (e.g., one or more servers,and/or the like) may generate, communicate, and/or the like datarepresenting GUI 300, and/or the like, which computing device(s) 10 may(e.g., based at least in part on such data, and/or the like) render,display, provide to a user, and/or the like. As illustrated, GUI 300 maycomprise (e.g., visibly, invisibly, as one or more displayed and/orun-displayed aspects of one or more touch controls, and/or the like)user-manipulable control element 302, and/or the like. GUI 300 may alsocomprise image area 303, which may be configured to render, display,provide to a user, and/or the like a plurality of different and distinctimages (e.g., associated with a user-solvable puzzle, and/or the like).In some embodiments, image area 303 may include at least oneuser-invokable element 304 for selecting at least one of one or more ofa plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements for control via control element 302, and/orthe like.

Referring to FIG. 3B, control element 302 may be configured to (e.g.,responsive to receiving corresponding user input via element(s) 302,304, and/or the like) cause one or more of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements (e.g., element 306, and/or the like) to at least one of expandor contract along one or more predetermined associated paths (e.g., path308, and/or the like) in image area 303 to form one or more portions ofa line drawing, and/or the like. Similarly, referring to FIG. 3C,control element 302 may be configured to (e.g., responsive to receivingcorresponding user input via element(s) 302, 304, and/or the like) causeone or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements (e.g., element310, and/or the like) to at least one of expand or contract along one ormore predetermined associated paths (e.g., path 312, and/or the like) inimage area 303 to form one or more portions of the line drawing, and/orthe like; and referring to FIG. 3D, control element 302 may beconfigured to (e.g., responsive to receiving corresponding user inputvia element(s) 302, 304, and/or the like) cause one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements (e.g., element 314, and/or the like) to atleast one of expand or contract along one or more predeterminedassociated paths (e.g., path 316, and/or the like) in image area 303 toform one or more portions of the line drawing, and/or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3E, as previously indicated, in some embodiments,image area 303 may include at least one user-invokable element 318 forselecting at least one of one or more of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements for control via control element 302, and/or the like. Referringto FIG. 3F, control element 302 may be configured to (e.g., responsiveto receiving corresponding user input via element(s) 302, 318, and/orthe like) cause one or more of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements (e.g.,element 320, and/or the like) to at least one of expand or contractalong one or more predetermined associated paths (e.g., path 322, and/orthe like) in image area 303 to form one or more portions of the linedrawing, and/or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3G, as one or more of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements expand and/or contract along their predetermined associatedpaths in image area 303 to form one or more portions of the linedrawing, and/or the like, one or more of the plurality of different anddistinct images (e.g., image 324, and/or the like) may become morediscernable, apparent, and/or the like to the human user of computingdevice(s) 10, and/or the like. For example, referring to FIG. 3H, one ormore portions of the line drawing (e.g., associated with image 324,and/or the like) may be filled with one or more patterns, textures,colors, and/or the like.

As previously indicated, in some embodiments, image area 303 may includeone or more user-invokable elements 326, 328, and/or the like forselecting at least one of one or more of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements for control via control element 302, and/or the like. In someof such embodiments, each of such corresponding different and distinctline elements may be associated with one or more of a plurality ofdifferent, distinct, alternative, and/or the like narratives, stories,themes, scenes, and/or the like (e.g., associated with the user-solvablepuzzle, and/or the like). In some embodiments, such narratives, stories,themes, scenes, and/or the like may occur over different periods of time(e.g., relating to the same or associated characters, objects, scenes,and/or the like). Additionally or alternatively, such narratives,stories, themes, scenes, and/or the like may relate differences betweenhow one or more individual characters see themselves, their stories,and/or the like (e.g., versus self-narratives, images, and/or the like).In some embodiments, the user (e.g., acting akin to a puppeteer, and/orthe like) may twist, alter, and/or the like one or more portions of theline drawing(s), image(s), and/or the like into a structure, textelement, and/or the like (e.g., associated with the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle, and/or the like). Additionally or alternatively,one or more portions of the line drawing(s), image(s), and/or the likemay include figures that may (e.g., notionally, and/or the like) create,cast, and/or the like shadows that include one or more hidden messages,and/or the like. In some embodiments, one or more portions of the linedrawing(s), image(s), and/or the like may cast light, shadow, and/or thelike that reveals previously hidden content, lines, behavior, and/or thelike.

For example, referring to FIG. 3I, control element 302 may be configuredto (e.g., responsive to receiving corresponding user input viaelement(s) 302, 328, and/or the like) cause one or more of the pluralityof different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, andextensible line elements (e.g., element 330, and/or the like) to atleast one of expand or contract along one or more predeterminedassociated paths in image area 303 to form one or more portions of theline drawing, and/or the like. Similarly, referring to FIG. 3J, controlelement 302 may be configured to (e.g., responsive to receivingcorresponding user input via element(s) 302, 326, and/or the like) causeone or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements (e.g., element332, and/or the like) to at least one of expand or contract along one ormore predetermined associated paths in image area 303 to form one ormore portions of the line drawing, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, image area 303 may include one or more elements 334(e.g., one or more text elements, graphics, and/or the like) posing aquestion, prompting a response, providing a clue, and/or the like, e.g.,regarding at least one aspect of a solution to the user-solvable puzzle,and/or the like. In some of such embodiments, image area 303 may alsoinclude one or more different and distinct user-invokable elements 336,which may be configured to (e.g., responsive at least in part to userinvocation, and/or the like) display within image area 303 one or moreof multiple different and distinct responsive text segments, graphics,and/or the like (e.g., to the question, prompt, clue, and/or the like).For example, referring to FIG. 3K, image area 303 may include element(s)338, and/or the like. Similarly, referring to FIG. 3L, image area 303may include element(s) 340, 342, and/or the like; and referring to FIG.3M, image area 303 may include element(s) 344, and/or the like.

As previously indicated, in some embodiments, the user-solvable puzzleassociated with the plurality of different and distinct images maycomprise a different and distinct puzzle, and/or the like. For example,referring to FIG. 3N, image area 303 may comprise gridlock puzzle 346,which may include at least one empty space and multiple different tiles,each of which may include a different and distinct portion of the linedrawing, and/or the like (e.g., for the user to rearrange to form adifferent and distinct drawing, image, and/or the like).

FIG. 4 depicts one or more example methods according to exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4 , at (402) one or more computing devices maygenerate data representing a GUI. The GUI may include an image area forrendering a plurality of different and distinct images including atleast one image that constitutes at least a portion of a solution to auser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images. The GUI may also include one or more user-manipulablecontrol elements configured to cause one or more of a plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements to at least one of expand or contract along one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form a line drawingcomprising at least a humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images. For example, computing device(s) 10, 50, and/or thelike may generate data representing GUI(s) 200, 300, and/or the like.

At (404), the computing device(s) may receive user input via theuser-manipulable control element(s) such that the one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements at least one of expand or contract alongtheir predetermined associated path(s) in the image area to form theline drawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of theat least one image that constitutes the at least a portion of thesolution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality ofdifferent and distinct images. For example, computing device(s) 10, 50,and/or the like may receive user input (e.g., via element(s) 202, 204,206, 302, and/or the like) such that element(s) 212, 216, 220, 306, 310,314, and/or the like expand and/or contract along path(s) 214, 218, 222,308, 312, 316, and/or the like in image area(s) 207, 303, and/or thelike to form one or more of the line drawings depicted therein, and/orthe like.

The technology discussed herein makes reference to servers, databases,software applications, and/or other computer-based systems, as well asactions taken and information sent to and/or from such systems. Theinherent flexibility of computer-based systems allows for a greatvariety of possible configurations, combinations, and/or divisions oftasks and/or functionality between and/or among components. Forinstance, processes discussed herein may be implemented using a singledevice or component and/or multiple devices or components working incombination. Databases and/or applications may be implemented on asingle system and/or distributed across multiple systems. Distributedcomponents may operate sequentially and/or in parallel.

Various connections between elements are discussed in the abovedescription. These connections are general and, unless specifiedotherwise, may be direct and/or indirect, wired and/or wireless. In thisrespect, the specification is not intended to be limiting.

The depicted and/or described steps are merely illustrative and may beomitted, combined, and/or performed in an order other than that depictedand/or described; the numbering of depicted steps is merely for ease ofreference and does not imply any particular ordering is necessary orpreferred.

The functions and/or steps described herein may be embodied incomputer-usable data and/or computer-executable instructions, executedby one or more computers and/or other devices to perform one or morefunctions described herein. Generally, such data and/or instructionsinclude routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, or thelike that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular datatypes when executed by one or more processors of a computer and/or otherdata-processing device. The computer-executable instructions may bestored on a computer-readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk,removable storage media, solid-state memory, read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), or the like. As will be appreciated, thefunctionality of such instructions may be combined and/or distributed asdesired. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or inpart in firmware and/or hardware equivalents, such as integratedcircuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or the like. Particular datastructures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspectsof the disclosure, and such data structures are contemplated to bewithin the scope of computer-executable instructions and/orcomputer-usable data described herein.

Although not required, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method,system, apparatus, and/or one or more computer-readable media storingcomputer-executable instructions. Accordingly, aspects may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, anentirely firmware embodiment, and/or an embodiment combining software,hardware, and/or firmware aspects in any combination.

As described herein, the various methods and acts may be operativeacross one or more computing devices and/or networks. The functionalitymay be distributed in any manner or may be located in a single computingdevice (e.g., server, client computer, user device, or the like).

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrativeembodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications, and/orvariations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims may occurto persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of thisdisclosure. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciatethat the steps depicted and/or described may be performed in other thanthe recited order and/or that one or more illustrated steps may beoptional and/or combined. Any and all features in the following claimsmay be combined and/or rearranged in any way possible.

While the present subject matter has been described in detail withrespect to various specific example embodiments thereof, each example isprovided by way of explanation, not limitation of the disclosure. Thoseskilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing,may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and/or equivalents tosuch embodiments. Accordingly, the subject disclosure does not precludeinclusion of such modifications, variations, and/or additions to thepresent subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art. For instance, features illustrated and/or described aspart of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield astill further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure cover such alterations, variations, and/or equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: generating and displaying,by one or more computing devices comprising at least one processor andmemory, a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising: an image area forrendering a plurality of different and distinct images including atleast one image that constitutes at least a portion of a solution to auser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images, and one or more user-manipulable control elementsconfigured to cause one or more of a plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements toexpand and contract along one or more predetermined associated paths inthe image area to form a line drawing comprising at least a humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images, wherein each of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements is associated with a different, distinct,and alternative narrative, story, theme, or scene associated with theuser-solvable puzzle; receiving, by the one or more computing devicescomprising the at least one processor and memory, user input via the oneor more user-manipulable control elements such that the one or more ofthe plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements expand and contract along theirone or more predetermined associated paths in the image area to form theline drawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of theat least one image that constitutes the at least a portion of thesolution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality ofdifferent and distinct images; and displaying in the image area, by theone or more computing devices comprising the at least one processor andmemory, the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein: the one or more user-manipulable control elements comprise atleast one common control element configured to cause the one or more ofthe plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements to expand and contract alongtheir one or more predetermined associated paths in the image area toform at least a portion of the line drawing comprising at least thehumanly discernible portion of the at least one image that constitutesthe at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzleassociated with the plurality of different and distinct images; and themethod comprises receiving, by the one or more computing devices, userinput via the at least one common control element such that the one ormore of the plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements expand and contract along theirone or more predetermined associated paths in the image area to form theat least a portion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein: the image area comprises at least one user-invokableelement for selecting at least one of the one or more of the pluralityof different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, andextensible line elements for control via the at least one common controlelement; and the method comprises receiving, by the one or morecomputing devices, user input via: the at least one user-invokableelement selecting the at least one of the one or more of the pluralityof different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, andextensible line elements for control via the at least one common controlelement, and the at least one common control element such that the atleast one of the one or more of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elementsexpands and contracts along its one or more predetermined associatedpaths in the image area to form the at least a portion of the linedrawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the atleast one image that constitutes the at least a portion of the solutionto the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of differentand distinct images.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the image areacomprises at least two different and distinct user-invokable elements,each of which is configured to select a corresponding different anddistinct line element from amongst the one or more of the plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements for control via the at least one common control element;and each corresponding different and distinct line element is associatedwith one or more of a plurality of different, distinct, and alternativenarratives, stories, themes, or scenes associated with the user-solvablepuzzle.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the one or moreuser-manipulable control elements comprise at least two different anddistinct control elements configured to cause at least two of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements to expand and contract along their one ormore predetermined associated paths in the image area to form at least aportion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images; and the method comprisesreceiving, by the one or more computing devices, user input via the atleast two different and distinct control elements such that the at leasttwo of the plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements expand and contract along theirone or more predetermined associated paths in the image area to form theat least a portion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein: the at least two different and distinct controlelements comprise at least: a first control element configured to causea first of the at least two of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements toexpand and contract along its one or more predetermined associated pathsin the image area to form at least a first portion of the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images, and a second control element configured to cause asecond of the at least two of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements toexpand and contract along its one or more predetermined associated pathsin the image area to form at least a second portion of the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images; and the method comprises receiving, by the one or morecomputing devices, user input via: the first control element such thatthe first of the at least two of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elementsexpands and contracts along its one or more predetermined associatedpaths in the image area to form the at least a first portion of the linedrawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the atleast one image that constitutes the at least a portion of the solutionto the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of differentand distinct images, and the second control element such that the secondof the at least two of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expands andcontracts along its one or more predetermined associated paths in theimage area to form the at least a second portion of the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images.
 7. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, by theone or more computing devices, user input selecting one or more portionsof the plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements and configuring the one or moreportions of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements to at leastone of be removed from within the image area, fail to be displayedwithin the image area, or have their prominence or appearance at leastone of reduced or altered within the image area such that the image areamore prominently depicts at least a portion of the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the oneor more portions of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements comprises atleast one or more portions of a common line element from amongst theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein each ofthe one or more portions of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elementscomprises at least one or more portions of different and distinct lineelements from amongst the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the image area comprises one or more of textor graphics that at least one of pose a question, prompt a response, orprovide a clue regarding at least one aspect of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the image areacomprises at least two different and distinct user-invokable elementsconfigured to, responsive at least in part to user invocation, displaywithin the image area one or more of multiple different and distinctresponsive text segments or graphics to the at least one of thequestion, prompt, or clue.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser-solvable puzzle comprises at least two different and distinctpuzzles associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.13. The method of claim 12, wherein a first of the at least twodifferent and distinct puzzles comprises a second of the at least twodifferent and distinct puzzles.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein atleast one of the at least two different and distinct puzzles comprises agridlock puzzle comprising at least one empty space and multipledifferent tiles, each of which depicts a different and distinct image ofthe one or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements at least oneof expanded or contracted along their one or more predeterminedassociated paths in the image area to form the line drawing comprisingat least the humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle.
 15. A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memorystoring instructions that when executed by the one or more processorscause the system to perform operations comprising: generating anddisplaying a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising: an image areafor rendering a plurality of different and distinct images including atleast one image that constitutes at least a portion of a solution to auser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images, and one or more user-manipulable control elementsconfigured to cause one or more of a plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements toexpand and contract along one or more predetermined associated paths inthe image area to form a line drawing comprising at least a humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images, wherein each of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements is associated with a different, distinct,and alternative narrative, story, theme, or scene associated with theuser-solvable puzzle; receiving user input via the one or moreuser-manipulable control elements such that the one or more of theplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements expand and contract along their one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form the linedrawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the atleast one image that constitutes the at least a portion of the solutionto the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of differentand distinct images; and displaying, in the image area, the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the one or moreuser-manipulable control elements comprise at least one common controlelement configured to cause the one or more of the plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements to expand and contract along their one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form at least aportion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images; and the operations comprisereceiving user input via the at least one common control element suchthat the one or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expand andcontract along their one or more predetermined associated paths in theimage area to form the at least a portion of the line drawing comprisingat least the humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.17. The system of claim 15, wherein: the one or more user-manipulablecontrol elements comprise at least two different and distinct controlelements configured to cause at least two of the plurality of different,distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible lineelements to expand and contract along their one or more predeterminedassociated paths in the image area to form at least a portion of theline drawing comprising at least the humanly discernible portion of theat least one image that constitutes the at least a portion of thesolution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality ofdifferent and distinct images; and the operations comprise receivinguser input via the at least two different and distinct control elementssuch that the at least two of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expandand contract along their one or more predetermined associated paths inthe image area to form the at least a portion of the line drawingcomprising at least the humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images.
 18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediacomprising instructions that when executed by one or more computingdevices cause the one or more computing devices to perform operationscomprising: generating and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI)comprising: an image area for rendering a plurality of different anddistinct images including at least one image that constitutes at least aportion of a solution to a user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images, and one or moreuser-manipulable control elements configured to cause one or more of aplurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous,and extensible line elements to expand and contract along one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form a line drawingcomprising at least a humanly discernible portion of the at least oneimage that constitutes the at least a portion of the solution to theuser-solvable puzzle associated with the plurality of different anddistinct images, wherein each of the plurality of different, distinct,visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements isassociated with a different, distinct, and alternative narrative, story,theme, or scene associated with the user-solvable puzzle; receiving userinput via the one or more user-manipulable control elements such thatthe one or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expand andcontract along their one or more predetermined associated paths in theimage area to form the line drawing comprising at least the humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images; and displaying, inthe image area, the line drawing comprising at least the humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images.
 19. The one or morenon-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein: the one ormore user-manipulable control elements comprise at least one commoncontrol element configured to cause the one or more of the plurality ofdifferent, distinct, visibly distinguishable, continuous, and extensibleline elements to expand and contract along their one or morepredetermined associated paths in the image area to form at least aportion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanly discernibleportion of the at least one image that constitutes the at least aportion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associated with theplurality of different and distinct images; and the operations comprisereceiving user input via the at least one common control element suchthat the one or more of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements expand andcontract along their one or more predetermined associated paths in theimage area to form the at least a portion of the line drawing comprisingat least the humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images.20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18,wherein: the one or more user-manipulable control elements comprise atleast two different and distinct control elements configured to cause atleast two of the plurality of different, distinct, visiblydistinguishable, continuous, and extensible line elements to expand andcontract along their one or more predetermined associated paths in theimage area to form at least a portion of the line drawing comprising atleast the humanly discernible portion of the at least one image thatconstitutes the at least a portion of the solution to the user-solvablepuzzle associated with the plurality of different and distinct images;and the operations comprise receiving user input via the at least twodifferent and distinct control elements such that the at least two ofthe plurality of different, distinct, visibly distinguishable,continuous, and extensible line elements expand and contract along theirone or more predetermined associated paths in the image area to form theat least a portion of the line drawing comprising at least the humanlydiscernible portion of the at least one image that constitutes the atleast a portion of the solution to the user-solvable puzzle associatedwith the plurality of different and distinct images.